Bobbin holder



1959 A. E. WINSLOW BOBBIN HOLDER Filed Jan. 15, 1958 INVENTOR, ALBERT E. WINSLOW HTTOENEVS United States 2,919,079 BOBBlN HOLDER Albert E. Winslow, Greenville, S.C. Application January 13, 1958, Serial No. 708,698

15 Claims. (Cl. 242130.2)

This invention relates to holders for bobbins such as those used in the textile industry .for supplying filaments, yarns, threads, etc., to textile machinery. The invention has particular reference to an improved bobbin holder of simple construction by which the bobbin can be readily attached to or detached from the holder.

Bobbin holders as commonly made heretofore comprise :a' stem rotatably mounted on a supporting member from which the stem hangs. This stem forms part of a rotatable assembly from which a pair of fingers project outwardly in opposite directions to engage the wall of the usual central hole in the bobbin, thereby holding the latter on the supporting member. To provide for quick and easy release of the bobbin from the holder, the fingers are made retractable by lifting the bobbin so as to raise a slidable part of the rotatable assembly relative to the stem on the supporting member, whereby the fingers are retracted from the surrounding wall of the bobbin and are latched in their retracted positions. In placing a new bobbin on the holder, the bobbin is raised to project the rotatable assembly into the bobbin hole until the upper end of the bobbin engages the slidable part of the rotatable assembly, whereupon further upward movement of the bobbin raises this part to release the fingers. The fingers are then urged outwardly into engagement with the surrounding wall of the new bobbin so that it is secured in positionon the holder.

These prior bobbin holders are not entirely satisfactory for various reasons, among which are their relatively complicated constructions and high 'cost of manufacture. Moreover, in some instances the releasing and holding actions of the fingers are not as positive and reliable as desired.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a bobbin holder of the type described which overcomes these disadvantages of the prior holders.

. A bobbin holder made according to the invention comprises a hollow body receiving the rotatable stem and,

slidable relative thereto between upper and lower positions, this body being sized to extend into the bobbin holder with a clearance and having a pair of opposed vertical slots. Pivotally mounted on the stem within the body are two fingers each having a portion adapted to swing from the stem through a respective vertical slot to an extended position for engaging and holding the bobbin. The fingers are connected to the body by respective tension springs acting through the fingers to pull the body downwardly on the stem, the body having retainer parts engageable with the respective fingers in the lower position of the body to hold the fingers retracted in the body. When each finger is engaged by its corresponding retainer part, the respective tensionspring has its line of pull offset from the pivotal axis of the corresponding, finger at the side of this axis which is remote from therespective slot. Thus, upon upward movement of the body from its'lower position, each finger is disengaged from the corresponding retainer part and is swung by the respective"sp'ring outwardly to its extended position through the respective slot, thereby engaging the surshown) rounding bobbin wall to hold the bobbin. At the lower portion of the body are cams engageable with the respective fingers upon movement of the body to its upper position, these cams being operable on the fingers to retract them and shift the line of pull of each spring to the side of the respective finger axis adjacent the respective slot, whereby each spring urges the bobbin-engaging portion of the respective finger away from its extended position. At the upper portion of the body are finger-advancing cams engageable with the respective fingers upon movement of the body'to its lower position, these cams being operable on the fingers to swing them into engagement with the respective retainer parts and shift the line of pull of each spring back to the side of the respective finger axis remote from the respective slot. Accordingly, each finger is now held retracted but is ready to be urged outwardlyto its extended position by the respective spring upon upward movement of the body to disengage the finger from the corresponding retainer.

It will be understood that upward movement of the body to extend or retract the fingers may be effected through a flange on the upper portion of the hollow body and engageable by the top of the bobbin.

In the preferred form of the invention, the hollow body comprises identical half-sections each of which is notched to form one of the slots when the sections are assembled, the fingers 'beingpivotally mounted on a flat stem on opposite sides thereof. The half-sections have surfaces forming the finger-retracting cams for the respective fingers, and each half-section also has an internal guide surface for a respective finger opposite its corresponding slot, this guide surface being engageable by the finger to limit its pivotal movement in opposite directions by the respective spring. In this embodiment, I also prefer to employ finger-advancing cams in the form of inserts removably secured in the respective half-sections'at the upper portion of the body, each tension spring being secured at one end to a corresponding cam insert. I With this arrangement, the parts of the rota-table assembly on the depending stem can be manufactured at low cost and readily assembled, the two half-sections of the body being secured together in any suitable manner, as by means of snap rings which permit the parts to be easily disassembled.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred form of the new. bobbin holder, showing in section a part of a bobbin held by the holder;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the holder illustrated in Fig. 1 but with one of the half-sections of the hollow body removed, the bearing assembly for the depending stem being shown in section;

Fig. .2A is a side elevational view of the half-section removed from the holder assembly illustrated in Fig. 2, showing .the interior of the removed half-section and the corresponding finger and tension spring;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the upper portion of the half-section illustrated in Fig. 2A, showing the finger in a different position, and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 in Fig. 1;

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 10 designates a supporting member in the form of a bearing stud which is threaded at its upper end portion 10a, so that the stud can be attached to a beam or other support (not A stem 11 depends from the supporting member 10 and is rotatably mounted thereon by means of a bearing assembly indicated generally at 12. As shown, the bearing assembly 12 comprises a bearing cup 13 secured in' a retainer 14 and containing ball bearings 15 or supporting member 10. A dust cap 16 rests on a Patented Dec. 29, 1959 The stem 11 is. in the form of. a flat metal stripand is secured at its upper end to the bearing cup retainer 14 in any suitable manner, as by means of a pin 18. The stem 11' is rounded at itslower end and is provided-at its lower portion with 'a pivot pin 19 projecting from-op posite sides of'the stem. Fingers20 and 21 a'r'e1pivotally mountedon the pin 19 at opposite sides of'thestem 11 A hollow body, shown generally at 23, receives the depending stem 11 and is slidable verticallyirelativedo the stem. The hollow body 23 is generally cylindrical in shape and has opposed vertical'slots 24 and 25i(Eig-. 4) through which the fingers 20. and 21', respectively, aref adapted-toextend-into engagement with the-surrounding internal wall of the bobbin B, as shown in .Fig. 1. Y

The hollow, body 23Icomprises two identical half-sec 4 7 insert 41 has a cam surface 42 sloping upwardly from the vertical guide surface 33 to the'retainer part 37, the cam surface 42 forming a finger-advancing or reset cam. A tension spring 44 is connected at its lower end to a detent 45 on finger 21, this detent being formed by striking metal from the finger. A similar detent 46 on insert 41 serves to secure the upper end of tension spring 44.

i As shown in Fig. 2A, the spring 44 is located inside tions 26- and 26d which are shown-in detail in Figs. 2A

and 2, respectively. Thus, the slots 24 and 25 areaforrned by notches in corresponding side edges of the. h'alf sec-1 tions 26a and 26, respectively. Since the two halfsections 26 ,and 26a areidentical, only thehalf-section 26 will be described in detail, corresponding parts of the other half-section 26a having corresponding.reference numerals with the subscript a. At its upper portion, the half-section 26 has an external flange 27 extending around the outer periphery of this section. Above the flange 27, the section is recessed to receive a snapring; 28 common to the two sections .1 26 -2611 The lower portion of section 26" is similarly recessed to receive a snap ring 29 which is likewise com mon to both sections. To assemble the two sections, the 3 section 26is turned 180 about its vertical 'axis from its position as shown. in Fig. 2A and is then placedv upon the,

1 the half-section 26 so that it will be separated from the corresponding spring 44a of the other section by the metal inserts 41-41 1 and thetwo fingers; -7-21. When the fingers 20-41 are in extended positions, as shown in Figs. 22A, the line or pull ofthe respective springs 44a and 44 is offset from'the pivot pin or axis 19 at the side of this axis which is remote from the respective slots or notches 24 and 25. As a result, the tension springs 44-44a urge the respective fingers 21 and 20 to their outermost or fully extended positions (counterclockwise abplit their pivotal axis 19, as shown in Figs. 2 and 2A), so thattheflat inner portion 47 of each finger is urged against, the corresponding internal guide surface 33' or respective finger.

mating :section 26a shown in Fig. 2, whereby. the notch? 25 will lie on. that side of the assembled body which is}. opposite the notch 24. The sections. arethen secured to getherbyforcing the upper and lower snap; rings 28. and

29 into their'respective recesses. To. facilitate proper. location of the sections 26 and 26a relative to each otherduring assembly, the section 26 is provided with upper.

andlower locating pins 30 adapted to be received in upper andlower holes 31a in section 26a, and the latter is pro vided with upper and lower-locating pins 30a adapted to be received in corresponding recesses 31 in section 26.

Opposite the notch25, the half-section 26 is provided with an internal guide surface 33 formed by. recessingi the metal along the corresponding flat face of the section,-

as best. shown in Fig. 4. The internal guide surface. 33 I extends continuously from the top;to the bottom of section 26 except for an interruption by a lug. 34 near the. upper end .of. this section. As appearsfrorn Fig. 2A,

the aforementioned recessing extends around the entire face of section 26 along its internal-profile. At the lower.-

part of the half-section this recessing forms a cam surface 35 lead1ng downwardly from the guide surface 33 towardv recessed surface 36 extending upwardly to the notch 25. Above this notch is a. retainer part 37 for holding, the

correspondingifinger 21; in retractedposition, as will be described in greater detail presently. Above theretainer part 37, the recessing is interrupted bya lug 38 opposite the lug34. The top of section 26 is notched as shown at 39 to form a slot with the corresponding notch of section 26a, when the two sections areassembled, and thenfiat stem 11 fits closely in this slot.

Almetal insert 41. fits closely in the upper portion. of

section 26 between the recessed surfaces 33 and 37. As

shown in Fig. 2A, the insert 41 has opposed notches receiving the lugs 34 and 38, It will be understood that I I the oppositeside of the section, where it joins a vertical.-

bo dy bymeans of. the interengaging lugs on the cor-J responding half sections. At its lower end. portion, thesofthat its pivot pin 19 extends through the pinhole in theg 'cor'respondingj finger 20, as shown in Fig. 2. Then the'other half-section 26 with its assembled parts (Fig.

2A) "isfjplaced on the sectio n26a" as previously described, with the pivot -pin 19 extending into the pin hole .of the fingerfifwhereupon the two sections are secured together-by the snap rings 28 .1 29.

Due to the tension in springs" 44-4411, the hollow body-23'; is hormlljheld its lowermost position on the stem 11'. 7 That is, the springs act through their connections to" fingers 205 21- to'dr'aw the body 23 down-. ward on the stem, since the upper ends of the springs are connected to this body through therespective inserts 41' and 41a. on the stem 11 is determined by the positions of the fingers 20 21. When the fingers are retracted to. the position of finger 2 1 in- Fig. 3, their upper ends engage the corresponding reset cams42 and 42a and retainer parts 37- 37a, which prevents further downward movement of the hollow body 23011 the stem. In thisppsitionof the fingers '(which. may be referred to as their reset position), the line ;of pull of'each tension spring 4444a is still offset from; the pivotal axis 1 9 at the side ofthis axis which is remote from the correspondnigj slot 25 or 24, as indicated in Fig. 3. Consequently, the pull of spring 44 urges the-upper end of finger 21 outwardly against the retainer part'37, and the other spring 44a'similarly urges the upper end' of retracted finger- 20 outwardly against the corresponding're'tainer part37a.-

Before the bobbin isattached-to the holder, the parts are positionedas indicated'in Fig, 3. To attach the bobbin, it is moved upwardly to project the hollow body 23 into the usual central hole in the bobbin, until the upper end of the bobbin engages the flange 27 of the hollow -body'.- Further upward movement of the bobbin B will then raise th hollow body 23 against the tension n springs- 44--44q, u ntil'the upperends of fingers 20 and ZI-Canclear the retainer. parts 37 and 37a, whereupon the tension springs snapthe fingers 20-21 out wardly abouttheir pivotal axis 19.and through,the cor the respective extended fingers'20 and 21. In this'position of the parts,- the ftensi onsprings urges, the .finge ..l

332;, whieh serves, to limit-the outward movement ofthe The lowermost position of'the body 23 counter-clockwise about their pivot :19, as viewed in Figs. 2-2A, but such outward swinging of the fingers is limited by engagement of the fiat edge 47 of each finger with the corresponding internal guide surface 33 or 33a.

The internal diameter of the bobbin B is slightly less than the distance between the outer ends of the opposed fingers 20-21 when they are. fully extended (Figs. 2 and 2A). ,Accordingly, the tension springs 44-44a press the outer ends of the extended fingers against the surrounding internal wall of the bobbin to hold the latter securely on the holder. Any downward pressure on the bobbin B will tend to swing the fingers 20-21 further outwardly to their positions of maximum extension -(determined by engagement of the finger surfaces 47 with the corresponding internal guide surfaces 33-33a) thereby increasing the gripping pressure of the fingers on the bobbin.

-When it is desired to release the bobbin from the holder, the bobbin is moved upwardly so as to raise the hollow body 23 through engagement of the top of the bobbin with the internal flange 27. In this upward movement of the bobbin, it slides relative to the fingers 20-21, since the latter can swing inwardly against the tension in their respective springs 44a-44. As a result of this movement, the parts will assume the positions shown in Figs. 2-2A, wherein the lower edges of the fingers, are engaged by the surfaces 48 and 48a defining the lower ends ofthe respective slots 25-24. Upon further upward movement of the body 23, the surfaces 48-4811 act as cams to swing the fingers inwardly through the respective slots 25 and 24, that is, clockwise about their pivotal axis as viewed in Figs. 2 and 2A.- Thus, each finger 20-21 will be in a substantially vertical position when its lower end engages the corresponding cam surface 35 or 35a in the lower part of the hollow body. As the latter continues its upward movement, the cam surfaces 35-35a serve to swing the fingers still further in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 2-2A, until the pointed lower end of each finger reaches the lower end of the corresponding cam surface 35 or 35a and engages the bottom of the corresponding internal guide surface 36 or 36a. In this position of the parts, theline of pull of each tension spring 44-44a passes to the opposite side of the pivotal axis 19 so that it now lies between this axis and the slot 25 or 24 for the corresponding finger. Thus, the finger 21 assumes the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2A wherein the line of pull P of the tension spring 44 lies between the pivotal axis of finger 21 and its corresponding slot 25. By reason of this toggle action; the finger 21 is now urged by its spring 44 clockwise about its pivotal axis, so that the upper end of the finger is pressed against the internal guide surface 33. Similarly, the tension spring 44a pulls the upper end of finger 20 against the corresponding internal guide surface 33a.

When the bobbin B is allowed to move downwardly from this raised position of the body 23, the springs 44-44a hold the corresponding fingers in their fully retracted positions against the respective surfaces 33 and 33a. At the same time, these springs draw the hollow body 23 downward until the lower ends of cams 42 and 42a engage the upper ends of the respective fingers 21 and 20. As the body 23 continues its downward movement, the cams 42 and 42a swing the respective fingers 21 and 20 counter-clockwise about their pivotal axis until the fingers engage the respective retainer parts 37 and 37a. In this position of the parts, the line of pull of each tension spring is returned to the side of the pivotal axis 19 which is remotefrom the slot 24 or 25 of the corresponding finger 20 or 21, as shown in Fig. 3. Conse} quently, the upper end of each finger 20 and 21 is now urged outwardly against the respective retainer part 37a or 37 by the corresponding spring 44a or 44, as previously described. In this way, the holder is reset for attachment of a new bobbin in the manner previously described.

hold the fingers retracted in the body,

The bearing stud 10, as illustrated, has a slot 10c' in the lower surface of its enlarged end 10b, this-slot being adapted to receive the reduced part 11a on the upper end of stem 11. By raisingthe parts 11, 14 and 13 relative to stud 10, and rotating stem 11 to align its end 11a with slot 100, the end 11a may be inserted in slot and the stem 11 used as a screw driver to screw the stud 10 into or unscrew it from the overlying beam or other support (not shown).

I claim:

1. A bobbin holder comprising a supporting member, a stem rotatably mounted on said member and depending therefrom, a hollow body receiving the stem and slidable relative thereto between upper and lower positions, said body being adapted to extend into the bobbin witha clearance and having a pair'of opposed vertical slots, a pair of fingers pivotally mounted on the stem and each having a portion adapted to swing from the stem through a respective vertical slot to an extended position for engaging and holding the bobbin, a pair of tension springs connecting the respective fingers to the body and acting through the fingers to pull the body downwardly on the stem, the body having retainer parts engageable with the respective fingers in said lower position of the body to each spring having its line of pull offset from the pivotal axis of the respective finger at the side of said axis remote from the respective slot when the finger is engaged by the corresponding retainer part, each finger being disengaged from the corresponding retainer part upon upward movement of the body from said lower position, whereby the springs swing said bobbin-engaging portions of the fingers outwardly to their extended positions through the respective slots, finger-retracting cams at the lower portion of the body engageable with the respective fingers upon movement of the body to said upper position to retract the fingers and shift the line of pull of each spring to the side of the respective finger axis adjacent the respective slot, whereby each spring urges the bobbin-engaging portion of the respective finger away from its extended position, and finger-advancing cams at the upper portion of the body engageable with the respective fingers upon movement of the body to said lower position to swing the fingers into engagement with the respective retainer parts and shift the line of pull of each spring back to said side of the respective axis remote from the respective slot.

2. A bobbin holder according to claim 1, in which said stem is fiat, the fingers being pivotally mounted on the stem at opposite sides thereof.

3. A bobbin holder according to claim 1, in which said stem is flat, the fingers being pivotally mounted on the stem at opposite sides thereof and having a common pivotal axis.

4. A bobbin holder according to claim 1, in which said finger-retracting cams include cam surfaces located below the slots and each sloping downwardly toward the side of the body containing the slot for the respective finger, each cam surface being engageable with a part of the respective finger located below its pivotal axis.

5. A bobbin holder according to claim 1, in which said finger-retracting cams include cams integral with the body and defining the lower ends of said slots.

6. A bobbin holder according to claim 1, in which said finger-retracting cams include cams integral with the body and defining the lower ends of said slots, each of said integral cams being engageable with the respective finger to pivotally retract it into the body, and cam surfaces located below the slots and each sloping downwardly toward the side of the body containing the slot for the respective finger, each cam surface being engageable with a lower part of the respective retracted finger to further pivotally retract it for effecting said shift of the line of pull of the respective spring.

7. A bobbin holder according to claim 1, in which said body has an internal guide surface for each finger opposaid; guidejsurface leading upwardly to the corresponding finger-advancing. cam

8, A bobbin, holder accordi'ngto claim 1, in which said body'hasaninternal guide surfaceifor each finger oppositeEits respective slot',1each;finger having a portion urged 1 against the corresponding guide surface by the respective.

spring in the extended position of the finger to limitoutward swingingof the finger by'its spring.

9.,A bobbin holder-according to claim 1, in which said bodyhas an internal guide surface for each finger opposite its respective slot, each: finger having a portion urgediagainst-the correspondingguide surface by the respective spring in theextended position of the finger to limit outwardjswinging of the finger by its spring, the upper end of each slot being engageable with the respective; finger in its extended position to limit downward movement of the body on the stem.

10. A bobbin holder according to claim 1, in which said body has an internal guide surface for each finger opposite its respectiveslot, each finger having a portion urged against the corresponding guide surface by therespective spring in the extended'position of the finger to limit outward swinging of the finger by its spring, the upper end of each slot being engageable with the respec* tive finger in its-extended position to limit downward movement of the body on the stern, each spring upon said shift of its line, of pull urging the bobbin-engaging portionof the respective finger against the corresponding guide surface, said guide surface leading upwardly to the corresponding finger-advancing cam.

11. A bobbin holder according to claim 1; in which said body has an internal guide surface for each finger opposite its respective slot, each finger having a portion urged against the corresponding :guide surface by the re-' spective spring in the extended position of the finger 'to limit outward swinging ofthe finger by its spring, the upper end of each slot being engageable with the respectivefinger in its extended position to limit downward movement of the body'on, the stem, each spring upon said shift of its line of pull urging the bobbin-engaging portion of the respective finger against the corresponding guide surface, said guide surface leading upwardly'to the corresponding finger-advancing cam, said last cam slopingjupwar'dlyfrom' the; corresponding guide' surface? to' therespective:retainerpart; V

I2: Aubobbirr holderraccordinglto claim 1, in which said body comprises 5 identical half-sections each notched to form; one of the. slots when theisections are assem bled, the fingers lieingiapivotallymounted on the stem' at opposite "sides: thereof-,the half-sections having surfaces forming'said finger retracting earns"- for the respective fingers.J

13;:A.bobbinf holdenaccordingto claim 1, in which said body comprises-identicalhalf-sections each notched to form one of the slots when the sections are assembled, thefingersheingpivotally mounted on the stem at opposite sidesthereof; the half-sections having surfaces forming; saidL finger' retracting cams for the respective fingers, each half-section also having an internal guide" surface for a finger opposite its respective slot and en-'- gageable bythe fingerto limitpiv'otal' movement thereof in opposite directions" by' the respective spring.

14. A bobbin holder according to claim 1, in which said body comprisesidenticalhalf-sections each notched to form one 'oftheslOts'wheh the sections are assembled,

the'fingers'being pivotally mounted on'the stem at oppositesides' thereof, the half-sections having surfaces form ing said finger-retracting eams for the respective fi'ngers,', said finger-advancing'ca'rns being removably secured in the respective half-sections at the upper portion of the body.

15; A bobbin holder-according to claim 1, in which said body'comprises' identical half-sections each notched to form one of the's lots when the sections are assembled,

the'fingersb eing=pivotally mounted on the stem at oppo-'-' site sides thereof," thehalf-sections having surfaces form'- ing said finger retracting cams for the respective fingers,'. said finger advancing cams being removably secured in the respective half seetionsat'the upper portion of the body, each spring'beingsecured'at one end we finger advancing" cam.

References Cited'in the file of'this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

